Right now, with the majority of us spending more time at home, lighting a new flame has never sparked so much joy. Whether it’s to brighten up your table setting or to help you switch off at the end of the day, candles can create the perfect ambience. But what if the glass starts to turn black or the wax is melting down the middle and not at the sides? Well, you could be burning your candle all wrong. But don’t fret, here to tell us how it’s done, Tom Daxon, Founder and Creative Director of his eponymous fragrance brand, and Shaun Russell, Founder of Skandinavisk, share their top candle burning tips for getting the most out of your favourite flame.
1. Burn your candle evenly
‘The first burn is the most important to avoid future tunneling for the rest of the candle’s use,’ says Daxon. Tunneling is where the candle burns down through the middle but not at the sides and thus the wax at the side is wasted.
‘Burn your candle for two hours on the first lighting – this way the wax will melt into a pool all the way to the edge, encouraging an even burn.’ Jo Malone, founder of Jo Loves, suggests - 'avoid burning any candle for more than 3-4 hours at a time and once you have put it out, leave the candle to completely cool before relighting it.'
It’s also worth investing in a slightly more expensive candle. ‘The balance between wax blend, perfume and wick are a science that good quality candles will have mastered,’ says Russell.
2. Trim the wick
Does your candle produce enough smoke to blacken the glass? ‘This is typically caused by a longer, exposed wick that has previously not been trimmed,’ explains Russell.
‘Trim the wick before every burn, to around 5mm,’ advises Daxon. ‘This will ensure the candle doesn’t produce soot or a an excessively large, flickering flame. Make sure you use scissors or a wick trimmer as something blunt could split the wick and make it produce more soot in the future.’
3. Center the wick
If you find your wick has melted to the side and is difficult to light, don’t panic. ‘You can extinguish the flame while the wax is molten and then reposition the wick in the center. However, you will only be able to reset the wick where the wax was liquid, not below that level.’
4. Fix the tunneling
As Daxon and Russell agree, the first burn is the most important to prevent tunnelling. If, however, your candle has already tunnelled – there is a solution. Fellow beauty editor, Lucy Partington, shared a super easy hack on her Instagram, using tinfoil to melt down the sides. Simply place the foil around the edge of the candle, light it and the edges will burn down. Genius!
Fancy a new flame? Shop from our curated edit below:
best candles
1 of 6Tom Daxon Sous Les Glycines Scented Candle, £55
Housed in a sleek black vessel, Tom Daxon's Sous Les Glycines Candle, with uplifting bergamot and sweet rose, is the stuff of our minimalist mantlepiece dreams.
2 of 6Skandinavisk HAV Distant Shores Candle, £35
Skandinavisk's HAV Distant Shores Candle is clean and fresh with salt spray, seaweed and beach rose. Imagine crisp sunny walks on a coastal beach and you get the gist.
3 of 6Jo Loves White Rose & Lemon Leaves A Scented Candle, £55
Delicate rose laced with fresh lemon peel and warm cedarwood makes for a romantic, sophisticated scent. Light it up in the evenings when you want to unwind.
4 of 6Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Candle, £85
Surround yourself with this calming, sophisticated blend of warming amber, fresh jasmine and creamy cedarwood. Yes, it's expensive, but the aroma is so worth it.
5 of 6Diptyque Figuier Scented Candle, £47
Oh-so-moreish, Diptyque's Figuier candle smells fresh, woody and sweet all at the same time. And It's handcrafted with a cotton wick that burns for 60 hours. Dreamy!
6 of 6Jo Malone Orange Blossom Home Candle, £51
We can always rely on Jo Malone for a beautifully scented candle, and this special edition is just that. Orange blossom and clementine laced with water lily and vetiver smells uplifting and fresh. Post-burn, the frosted glass makes a chic make- up brush pot, too.
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